Skipping over Sofia on any trip through the Balkans will have you missing out on something really special. I don’t believe this city gets as much credit as it should! The laid back capital has something for everyone, from historical monuments and museums to nearby hikes and nature, incredible and cheap food around every corner, nice locals… I could go on, but overall, the city has a very vibrant feel to it that I felt stood out among many other Balkan capitals.
You can easily arrive to Sofia from anywhere in the Balkans, farther-reaching Europe, and anywhere in the world, really, thanks to its nice international airport. I flew in from Bucharest for relatively cheap, but you can also access Sofia through bus or train connections. Base yourself in accommodation anywhere around the city center – Vitosha Avenue is a good frame of reference – the city’s attractions are all compact and within walking distance from here.
As I normally do in a new place, I headed for Sofia’s main street, Vitosha Avenue, which is a wide-open pedestrian street lined with souvenir shops, hip restaurants and bars, and colorful buildings. This is a great place to get acquainted with the lively Sofia life and also meet other travelers if you wish. There’s large parks at either end of the Avenue, so I took spent several hours leisurely strolling around.
Next, I headed to Sofia’s most famous landmark, the Alexander Nevski Cathedral. This Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral is visually stunning from both the inside and out – the exterior is coated in gold and teal accents that glisten in the sun, plus the interior is a gem as well. I’m not even religious, but this right here was a church that I could really appreciate. I dedicated a couple hours exploring the church from every angle, and snapped tons of photos in the process.
Other must-sees and must-dos in Sofia include the National Historical Museum or the National Art Gallery if you’re a museum buff, the Banya Bashi Mosque if you love to explore religious monuments, or for nature lovers – Vitosha Mountain. You can take Bus #66 from Sofia’s center to reach the base of the mountain in less than one hour, and from there, take a cable car or hike up to the 2000 meter high summit. Sofia is unique in this aspect of having such a massive mountain just on the cusp of the city. Bulgaria’s nearby Rila Monastery is also a popular day trip from Sofia, where tours are easily booked through your accommodation or anywhere in the city center. I visited Rila Monastery as a day trip with Rila 7 Lakes, which was an insanely enjoyable and gorgeous hike through 7 different lakes atop a mountain range. I wrote a full guide to this day trip here. Though Sofia was an awesome city, my trip to the monastery and lakes was the highlight of my Bulgarian visit! You can also visit another famous city, Plovdiv, as a day trip from Sofia if you want to see Roman-era ruins.
Other random tips about Sofia: they use the Bulgarian lev, which you can exchange or withdraw easily throughout the capital. Everything here is SUPER cheap, I ate meals for less than $5 USD, drank beer for $1 USD, and ate gelato for $1 USD as well. The city bus system is fabulous and can connect you to anywhere in the city for very cheap as well. Going along with the cheap theme – hostels and hotels are also inexpensive. I stayed in a comfy dorm for $6 USD each night, and you can get a mid-range hotel for less than $50 per night.
All in all, Sofia surprised me with its colorful and friendly atmosphere. Compared to nearby Balkan capitals like Belgrade or Podgorica that fell flat for me, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Sofia and plan on returning the next time I’m in the region.
